The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-29
sUFFOOATED BY GAS.
o. O. McCurdy, Superintendent of the
Mankato Gas Works, Meets His Death

Mankato Gas Works, Meets His Death.
The Sudden Ending of Promising
Life.
One of the most sad and touching in
cidents that ever happened in this city
overlook Mr.. o. &. McCurdy, Superin
tendcnt of the Mankato Gas Works
Tuesday afternoon at , O'Clock, resulting
in his death from suiiocation by gas.
At two o'clock and five minutes tn,
news came by telephone that McCurdy
was dead. Everyone FASTENED 10 the
gas works to ascertain if the report
could possibly bc true, all hoping that
there might be some mistake about the
report But, alas, il was true! \ re-
porter of the FREE PRESS repaired hasti,
" To- the works, and there found the in
animate form of the poor uniortunat,
lying in Deaths embrace. What n sor-
rowiu sight only those who saw him
will ever know.
Mr.. J. A. Presley, Jr., who has been
helping about the works for the last
week, during the serious trouble with
the machinery, stated that for three oil
four days Il serious leak had been no
ticcd, but its location had not been dis
covered. Mr.. McCurdy had been i'll the
habit of going about the works and the
holder just previous To making the
charge" and only five minutes before
his lifclcss form was found, he had left
the engine room. Some of the hands
about the premises desired Ia see him
about something and started around Ia
find him. Not discovering him on the
outside of the building the trap door Ia
the basement. Immediately under the
large gas meter, was raised and there,
to the horror of the discovcrcr, lay the
poor fellow upon his back. He was I'M
mcdiately taken ont into the air, Il ply
stefan dispatched for, but to no purpose.
McCurdy was dead! Mr.. Presley says
that when taken out he was breathing,
but this continued only for a moment or
two, when all signs of life entirely dis
appeared. 1t is supposed, and il seems
entirely reasonable, that Mr.. McCurdy
opened this trap door and discovering
the leak which had SO much troubled
him, went down To ascertain what means
il would be necessary To take to
stop it. As he went down the ladder
the trap closed upon him, md the hole
was so completely filled with the poi
sonOus vapor that il was but the work of
a moment to render him senseless.
From the position in which he was
found, II is evident that he made an
effort Ia get out, but was overcome be-
fore he reached the top of the ladder
and fell back senseless. The hole is not
81; faAt lnnYN nnl 10
tered by a ladder standing ut an angle of
about ID degrees.
Mr.. McCurdy had an affection of the
heart, and had often stated to those most
intimate with him, that he expected To
be taken oil suddenly when he went.
Poor fellow, little did he dream that his
life would be cut off in this terrible man
ner.
The remains of deceased We're convey
ed TO the home of his parents on Jack
son street, and the relatives are nearly
wild with grief. Mrs. McCurdy, wife of
deceased, row ut the home finer mother
in Ohio, was telegraphed the sad news
and the knowledge that the
husband she almost wOrshiped is no
more, will almost break her heart.
Words are inadequate To express the
profound sorrow this community feels
over the sad fate which has befallen
Mr.. McCurdy and his heartbroken fam
iv. No young man in this city had a
greater number of friends than Ohio.
He was of Il genial, happy tempera-
nent. liberal and public spirited in his
every act. and thoroughly companion
able Young man. To know that he,
who only few short hours ago. was in
he prime of lie, Il picture of health,
ana with prospect for the future rarely
enjoyed by one of his age, is no more, is
only to impress us most deeply with the
of life-the certainty of
ieath.
May God he merciful to those whose
hearts are now wrung in anguish over
he terrible trial they are called upon to
bear. And may he be especially watch
'ul over the darling babe who has not
md now never will, know the endear-
ny name of papa, only as she may hear
It oft repeated from the lips of most
devoted mother, 50 ruthlessly bereft of
1 true and atlectionate husband.
Nothing is known of what action will
De taken for the final interment of the
until word is received from
Mrs. McCurdy. is probable. however,
hat they will he taken TO Ohio, the
ormer home of deceased.
We learn that Mr.. McCurdy had some
Il 70 i,,S